Knockdown picnic table and bench assembly



Patented Dec. 8, 1 953 3 UNITED STATES PATE'NTLO FFICE KNOCKDOWN PICNIC TABLE m),

BENCH ASSEMBLY John P. Lysaght, Milwaukee, Wis. V Application October 17, 1952, Serial No. 315,267

invention relates to picnic and camping equipment and more particularly to a knockdown picnic table and bench assembly which can be easily disassembled, folded and transported in the trunk of an automobile.

One of the prime objects of my inventionis to designa picnic table and bench assembly, the component sub-assembled parts of which can be compactly folded for storage and/or transportation in areas of small compass such as the trunk of an automobile, so that they can be transported to a desirable location and assembled for use with a minimum of time and effort, and later disassembled and folded for return in the vehicle.

Another object of my invention is to design a knockdown table and bench assembly which can be very rapidly set up and/or disassembled without the use of'tools of any kind.

A further object of my invention is to design a table and bench assembly of the type described, which is neat and pleasing in appearance, and of simple and durable construction, and which can-be very economically manufactured.

A still further object of my invention is to design a knockdown table and bench structure which can be disassembled into a very few subassembled parts, each sub-assembly being of sufficient size so that the possibility of loss or misplacement is eliminated, and which requires no bolts or screws to assemble.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages oi. the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective plan view of my knockdown picnic table and bench assembly set up for use, the table top being shown as comprised of two hingedly connected folding sections.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the subassemblies, the table top being shown as unitary.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the table and bench assembly includes a pair of folding benches B which comprise tops or seats H! with 5 Claims. (Cl. 155'--1 24) leg sections L hingedly connected thereto by 5 means of hinges l2 to fold inwardly towards each other asillustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The leg sections L comprise legs l3 joined by cross braces l4 and I5, and it will be noted that pairs of spaced-apart strips l6 are provided on the upper face of the braces I5 and I6 and that braces ll span the pairs of legs [3 with the ends accommodated between said strips [6 when the bench is set up, triangular braces [8 being securedto the. lower face .of the braces I1 adjacent the ends thereof to abut thescross braces I5 and maintain the, leg sections L in spacedapart relation. W g Toconveniently maintain the leg sections L in folded position when desired, centrally disposed blocks 59 are secured to the lower faces of the tops l0, and dutchmen 2,0 are provided thereon, and can be rotated'to overlie the braces l5, all as shown in Fig.3 of the drawings.

Open ended, transversely disposed housings 2| depend from the ends of the bench tops [0 adjacent the leg sections L to" receive the ends of a pair of bench connecting support members 22.

'The housings 2| also serve to prevent the leg sections L from swinging outwardly past a vertical position when the benches B are occupied.

Pivotally connected to the supports 22 interjacent the ends thereof by means of pins P are pairs of uprights or legs 23. The uprights 23 are so positioned that a table top 24 supported thereon will be equidistant from the benches B. Depending fianges25 are formed on the table top 24 which is of a size to snugly receive the upper ends of the uprights 23 in the corners thereof when the latter are in vertical position. The uprights 23 are prevented from swinging inwardly past vertical position by a brace 26 provided on the side of the support member 22, and it will be obvious that when the table top 24 is also mounted on the ends of the uprights 23, that the legs are prevented from swinging outwardly by the flanges 25 and firmly support, the top 24 in position.

In Fig. 1, the top is shown as composed of a,

pair of hingedly connected sections which arefoldable, but it is to be understood that this form is optional and that the unitary top depicted in Fig. 3 can also be employed in prac-.

ticing the invention. I find it quite convenient. to use the foldable top when a knockdown servingtable of suitable design is adjunctively employed in conjunction with my table and bench as sembly, the component parts of the serving table fitting nicely within the folded top 24 which, can be provided with a latch and a carrying handle (not shown) for convenient handling' To reduce the assembled structure shown me Fig. l to the knocked down condition depicted in Fig. 3 so that the various parts may be conveniently stored and transported, it is merely necessary to lift the top 24 off the uprights 23, move the benches B outwardly until the ends of the supports 22 are free of the housings 2i, and then swing the uprights 23 down to lie flush with the supports 22. Thence the braces l'l are removed from between the bench leg section's L and the leg sections L are folded inwardly and latched by the dutchman 2|. The assembly is, of course, efiected in the same manner without the use of tools and with a minimum of eflort. It will be obvious that the various knocked dowfi parts shown in Fig. 3 can be stored in a relatively small place, out of the way, and yet are reads for instant assembly when necessary.

From all of the foregoing, it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, practical and inexpensive knockdown table and benches, which esii -beeosiiy and quickly assembled and disse .sembled, and which eaz'i stored in a very small area, or transported iii the tfiihlfi of an auto .r'nobil for use when desired.

What I claiin is: g

1.- In a knockdown tame and bench assembly,

a pair of spaoedmpam paralieiiy disposed benches having seats arid liingedlyconneeted leg momhers, means on the ends or s idbenehesior r lmvfibly receiving supporting a pair of bn'dh- .ooiiiieetin'g supportiiiembers, uprights pivotaiiy connected to said support members, a table top lhavingdependin'g' on the upper ends of said uprights, and means for preventing said uprights rroii winging mwardiy past vertical position. I

2. The combinationdefined iii'elain'i 1' in which said means comprises horizontally disposed spacer members mounted on said support members between said uprights. V

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each leg seetioii comprises a pair of iegs and a cross brace spanning and connecting said legs, centrally spaced=agart transversely disposed blooks nsaid cross bras-es and removable erases of s iiiioient length to be accommodated between said blocks adapted to span said leg sections when said benches are set up, said braces having depenoin iabotment adjaeent the ends thereofjo engage s'a'id cross braces and 'niaintaiti said le sections in spaced=apai-t position.

4. In a knockdown table and bench assembly, a pair of spaced-apart, parallel benches having seats and leg sections hingedly connected to the underside of said seats at spaced distances from the ends thereof, transversely disposed, openended housings depending from said seats adjacent the outer faces of said leg sections when the leg sections are in vertical position, a pair of horizontally disposed bench-connecting support members reii'iovably' received in said housings, pairs of uprights pivotally mounted on said support members intermediate said benches and swingable from a folded position with respect to said support members to a vertical upright position, spacer members on said support members between each pair of uprights to prevent said uprights from swinging inwardly past vertical position, and a table top having depending rims snugly acommodating the upper ends of said uprights in the corners thereof to rigidly support and stabilize said table one prevent outward swinging movement or said uprights.

a pair or spaced-apart, pereiieliy disposed benches having seats andhingedly' connected leg member's, transversely disposed, open ended nous: ings depending from the ends of the seats of said benches for removes-1y receiving and supporting a pair of bench-connecting support members, no: rights pivotaliy connected to said support nie ii= hers, a table top having depending rims 'on the upper end or said uprights, and means for pie: venting said upri hts from swinging inwardly past vertical position.

JOHN P. LYsAG-H'r.

Refereiioes Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

